Folding bed and dressing-case



UNITED STATES ATENT Fri-cr;e

JOSHUA SPEED, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. p

FOLDING BED AND DRESSING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Letters Patent No. 454,833, dated June 23,1891. Application filed August 26, 1890. Serial No. 363,131. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JOSHUA SPEED, a citt.

zen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Combined Folding Bed and Dressing-Case; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a combined folding bed and dressing-case orcommode or other equivalent article of furniture adapted to coactin thisrelation with afolding bed; and it has for its object to so construct,combine,

and arrange the folding bed and its attendant dressing-case orequivalent article of furniture that the two articles will be so relatedto each other that the dressing-case will perform the function or officeof supportingand bracing the stationary casing of the folding bed,whereby a new article of manufacture is produced, the utility andconvenience of which is obvious, as will be readily understood byreference to the drawings.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangementof the various parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in theclaim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a deviceembodying my invention, open to show the construction; and Fig. 2ahorizontal section of the lower portion.

Folding beds having an upright stationary casing of such height as toaccommodate the folding section pivoted at full length therein are ofnecessity top-heavy, and liable to rock and tip backward and forwardwhen the folding section is operated. It is therefore common to providesuch stationary casings with a projecting base of some sort wider thanthe body of the casing. This base is sometimes utilized for drawers forcontaining various articles.

I provide a frame C, upon which the stationary casing A is built, whichprojects forward at the foot of the casinga sufficient distance to forma secure foundation and prevent the casing from tipping forward when thefolding section is pulled forward for opening the bed. The foldingsection Bis pivoted to the stationary casing near the foot thereof, andmay be provided with springs, weights, or other devices to expedite theopening and closing of the same, and the structure is provided withcasters F F, which rest upon the floor. It is evident that if I shouldnow provide the folding section with suitable panels for closing thefront I would have in ensemble an ordinary folding bed with a frame Cprojecting beyond its front at its foot.

To one side of the casing A, Iattach by suitable hinges G G adressing-case D, having a high back extending upward to or nearly to thelevel of the top of the stationary casing. This dressing-case is mountedupon casters F F, which rest upon the floor and upon which it isindependently movable. At the rear of the case is a recess E to receivethe frame C when the article is closed. The end pieces of the frame havebeveled portions C C to prevent engagement with the foot of D when itswings around for closing the front of the bed.

It is obvious that each article stands upon its own base, and that bothrest upon the floor, and that when closed they may be moved in unison asa single article, and that owing to the construction described the,combined article occupies little, if any, more iioor-space than anordinary folding bed. In opening the bed the dressing-case moves freelyand independently upon its own casters, the free end describing aquarter-circle, and rests about at a right angle to the front of thestationary casing, thereby disclosing the folding section, which maythen be let down and is ready for use. Being attached to the stationarycasing and about at right angles therewith, it is evident that it formsa firm brace or support for the same, and effectually prevents anytipping movement of the latter either forward or backward,and whenclosed forms the front of the bed.

It will be observed that the dressing-case performs the functions ofclosing the front of the bed when closed, braces it when open, and

travels on its own casters on the iioor unsupy ported by the bed-case,which is considered an important feature. i

IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

The combination, with the section A, havlng extended base-frame C,provided with IOO casters,of the bed hinged at its lower end to thesection A and designed to rest upon the baseframe when in E horizontalposition, and the dressing-oase D, hinged ai; one side to the side ofthe section A, and having casters and a recess E to receive thebase-frame' of the section A, whereby it moves on .its own castersunsupported by the section A, serves to close the front of the bed whenclosed, and to brace it when open, substantially as specified. ro

In testimony whereof I affix my signzitu re in presence of twoWitnesses.

JOSHUA SPEED. Vitnesses:

LUTHER V. MoULToN, DENNIS L. ROGERS.

